• Su Ha Han, Minji Jung, Heon-Jae Jeong, and JinKwan Hong.
• Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Soon Chun Hyang University, Cheonan, Korea. jasmin720@sch.ac.kr.
• J. Korean Med. Sci. 2023 Aug 28; 38 (34): e290e290.

AbstractThis research proposes a safety strategy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) walk-through booths to optimize pandemic preparedness. These booths, designed for respiratory sample collection during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively reduce infection risk and personal protective equipment-related fatigue among healthcare workers. However, inadequate disinfection and glove management could escalate infection transmission. Using computational fluid dynamics simulations, we analyzed droplet dispersion on booth surfaces and gloves under various wind conditions. Our findings suggest that when setting up COVID-19 walk-through booths, their location should be strategically chosen to minimize the effects of wind. All surfaces of booth gloves must be thoroughly disinfected with a certified disinfectant after nasopharyngeal swab collection. It is also recommended to wear disposable gloves over booth gloves when changing between patient examinations. In wind-affected areas, individuals nearby should not solely rely on the 2-meter distancing rule due to potential droplet spread from walk-through booths. We strongly recommend consistent and proper mask use for effective droplet blocking. Adherence to these guidelines can significantly enhance the safety and efficiency of walk-through booths, particularly in potential future pandemics.© 2023 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

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